Rençber (Turkey)

Rençber

Turkey

©2016 Andrew Carnie. Originally taught in the US by Bora Özkök, who learned the dance from Yusuf Dener in 1977. It is part of a suite from Sümoter Ensemble of Izmir. The dance represents actions done on a farm. The men are looking for good soil, then the seeds are sowed, and then the harvest. The dance was brought to Turkey by people from the former Jugoslavia.

Music: Horon 101
Meter: 4/4 & 2/4
Formation: Short lines. Traditionally only done by men. Shoulder (T) hold
Introduction: 2 bars no action, According to Bora's notes you start dance with "hopa" heard on recording. However we actually wait until the beginning of the next bar after the "hopa",

Part 1: Slow Music

Start facing center
Bar 1: Fall on R to R in a stomp (1,2), Cross L over R (3,4)
Bar 2: Step on R in a stomp (1), Swing L foot up and around to back (2,3,4)
Bar 3: Fall on L behind R (1), Swing R foot up and around to back (2,3,4)
Bars 4-21:   repeat bars 1-3, six more times

Bora's notes have an alternative variation, where on bar 2 you step on R, and then twist to the R bending down you touch L knee down to the ground and on bar 2, you step on L and then twist to L, bending down to touch R knee to the ground. Bora's notes suggest alternating this variation with the one described above

Part 2: 2/4

You'll hear a "heyyaa" in the music. Complete the foot work of part 2, and then start the footwork of this step with the fast music. Switch to a belt hold. 
Bar 1: Step R very very slightly forward (1,2),
Bar 2: Step L forward very slightly (1,2)
Bars 3-8: repeat bars 1-2, three more times
Bar 9: Click R next to L, with weight, shout "hop" (1), pause (2)
Bar 10: Click L next to R with weight, should "hey" (1), pause (2)
Bar 11: Click R next to L, without weight, shout "ha" (1), pause (2)
Bar 12: Hop on L, shout "hey" (1), Hop on L again, shout "Hey" (2)

Part 3: Basic step (2/4)

Bars 1-3 constitute what's called the "basic step" throughout the rest of these notes.
Bar 1: Step R (1), L (2) backing up
Bar 2: Step R (1), Kick L forward  (2)
Bar 3: Step on L in place (1), hop on L, while Lift R knee high, R toe pointing down (2)
Bars 4-12: repeat bars 1-3, three more times.

Part 4: Ha Şimdi  (High Kicks)

During bar 12 of the previous step, you'll hear "Ha şimdi" shouted on the recordgin to tell you to do this step.
Bar 1: Step R (1), L (2) in place
Bar 2: Step R (1), Kick L forward  (2)
Bar 3: Step on L in place (1). Kick R out to R side (slightly in front of neighbor's legs).
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3 with opposite footwork
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 3-4.

Part 5: 123 stamps

Bar 1: Step L (1), R (2) in place, turning slightly to RLOD
Bar 2: Step L in place (1), stamp R next to R (2)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork, turning slightly to LOD
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4

Part 6: Pas-de basques

Bar 1: Leap onto L (1), cross R over L (&), step on L in place (2)
Bar 2: repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3: repeat bar 1

Part 7: Hey Hey Hey 

Bar 1: Leap onto R in place, lifting L in front. Shout "hey". (1) Leap onto L, lifting R in front, shout "hey" (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Leap onto R (1), cross L over L (&), step on R in place (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3 with opposite footwork
Bars 5-6: Repeat bars 1-2
Bar 7: Step R (1), L (2)  turning to face RLOD

Part 8: Stamp 123s

Bar 1: Stamp on R next to L (1). Starting to turn to the R to face LOD, step on R (2)
Bar 2: Step on L (1), R (2) completing turn to face LOD
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2, with opposite footwork and direction.
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 1-2
Bar 7: Stamp L, no weight (1) pause (2)
Bar 8: Facing center, step back on L (1), pause (2)
Bar 9: Step back on R (1) kick L forward (2)
Bar 10: Step on L (1), hop on L, lifting R up, with toe pointed down (2)

Part 9: 3 basics

Bars 1-9: do 3 basic steps (see part 3)

Part 10: Kes

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1), Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step forward on R (1), chug forward on R, kicking L forward (2)
Bar 3: Step forward on L (1), Kick R foot forward (2)
Bar 4: Slap flat R foot forward across in front of L (R knee straight) (1,2)
Bar 5: Slap R forward again (1,2),
Bar 6: And slap again (1,2)
Bar 7: Leap onto R, sharply lifting L up  (1), hold this position through the pause in the music
Bar 8: Slowly Start to fall forward on L, bending at waist on "hoop" (1) fall onto L on "Hey" (2)
Bars 9-10: Back up stepping R (1), L (2), R (1), each of these steps happens when the recording says "hey". pause (2)
Bar 11: Step on back on L (1), hop on L, lifting R knee up as in the last count of the basic (2)

Part 11: 3 Basics

Bars 1-9: do 3 basic steps

Part 12: Kes again

Repeat Part 10

Part 13: 4 Basics

Bars 1-12: do 4 basics

Part 14: Kaz

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1), Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step forward on R (1), chug forward on R, kicking L forward (2)
Bar 3: Step forward on L (1), Kick R foot forward (2)
Bar 4: Slap flat R foot forward across in front of L (R knee straight) (1,2)
Bar 5: Slap R forward again (1,2)
Bar 6: Brush R foot straight towards back, bending at waist (1,2)
Bar 7: Brush R foot forward, straightening up (1,2)
Bar 8: Squat on both feet and straighten up (1,2)
Bar 9: Step R (1), L (&), R (2) moving slightly forward
Bar 10: repeat bar 9 with opposite footwork
Bar 11: repeat bar 9
Bar 12 repeat bar 10, but backing up
Bar 13: repeat bar 12, with opposite footwork
Bar 14: repeat bar 12
Bar 15: Step on R (1), Kick L forward (2)
Bar 16: Step on L in place (1), bounce on L (2)

Part 15: Basics

Bars 1-9: do three basic steps

Part 16: Kaz again

repeat part 14

Part 17: Basics

Bars 1-9: do three basic steps

Part 18: Kir

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1), Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R forward  (1), hop on R, swinging L leg around to face LOD
Bar 3: Cross L over R (1) hop on L, swinging R leg around to face LOD
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3 with opposite footwork
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 3-4
Bars 7-8: repeat bars 3-4
Bar 9: step on L facing forward (1), hop on L, lifting R knee up with toe pointed down (2)

Part 19: Basics

Bars 1-9: do three basic steps

Part 20: Kir again

repeat part 18

Part 21: Basics

Bars 1-9: Do three basic steps

Part 22: Topla

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1). Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R forward  (1). Hop on R (2)
Bar 3: Step forward on L (1). Hop on L, swinging R leg in front (2)
Bar 4: Cross R foot over L, leading with heel (1) Step on L to L, with L toe pointed to left (2), head looks to L.
Bar 5: repeat bar 4
Bar 6: Cross R foot over L (1), hop on R turning body to face LOD, swinging L foot around
Bars 7-9: repeat bars 4-6, with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 10-12: repeat bars 4-6
Bar 13: Step on L in place and shout "Hey" (1), hop on L and shout "hey" (2)

Part 23: Basics

Bars 1-12: do 4 basic steps

Part 24: Topla again

Repeat part 22

Part 25: Basics

Bars 1-12: do 4 basic steps

Part 26: Biç

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1). Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R forward  (1). Hop on R (2)
Bar 3: Step forward on L (1), circle R forward in an arc, sweeping the floor (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3 with opposite footwork
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 3-4
Bar 7: Step on L in place, lifting R up. Shout "hey" (1), Hop on L and shout "hey" again (2)

Part 27: Basics

Bars: 1-12: do 4 basic steps

Part 28: Biç again

Repeat part 26

Part 29: Basics

Bars 1-12: Do 4 basic steps

Part 30: Ending

Bar 1: Step backwards on R (1). Step back on L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R forward  (1). Hop on R (2)
Bar 3: Step on L forward (1). Kick R forward (2)
Bar 4: Slap R foot forward with a flat foot and straight knee, bent over at the waist (1), hold (2)

Other notes on the web

• Page 123 of (1978) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• (1977) Holiday Camp Syllabus

Tucson Video

Other Videos on the web

• Rençber starts at 9:10: https://archive.org/details/1995HoustonInternationalFolkDancersTurkishTxFolklife

Also spelled: Rencber, Renchber